A Federal Court jury found that Toyota bore the majority of the fault in a 2006 car accident that took the lives of three people and awarded the families involved over $11 million. The jury also placed part of the blame on the driver. The driver of a 1996 Toyota Camry that crashed into another vehicle, contended that he tried to slow his vehicle down, but that the car wouldn’t slow down. The driver was initially convicted of vehicular homicide and jailed, but won a new trial after reports surfaced about sudden acceleration in some Toyotas, and questions were raised about the adequacy of his defense. Prosecutors opted not to re-try the driver. The driver, his relatives, along with other people who were injured or lost loved ones in the crash, later sued Toyota arguing there was a defect in the car’s design. They claimed the Camry’s auto-drive assembly could stick, and when tapped or pushed while stuck, it could stick again at a higher speed.
Toyota argued there was no defect in the design of the 1996 Camry, and that the driver was negligent. It also claimed that the 1996 Camry was never subject to the recalls of later-model Toyotas that was discussed in the media. The question to the jury was whether there was a defect in the design of the 1996 Camry that was unreasonably dangerous, and if so, whether that defect caused the plaintiffs’ injuries. The jury found Toyota was 60% at fault and the driver was 40% at fault and awarded the driver and the families involved $11.44 million. After the jury verdict, Toyota release a statement claiming it was not at fault and is considering its legal option
If you have a question regarding your Toyota or any other make of vehicle, you should contact the experienced lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center®, at www.yourlemonlawrights.com or call 1-800-US-LEMON (800-875-3666), toll-free. Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® has been effectively assisting Toyota customers and customers of all makes of vehicles in Lemon Law claims involving various defects. Our lemon law attorneys will take time to talk to you about your rights and will let you know if they can help.
Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® was founded in 1995 and has helped over 45,000 consumers nationwide enforce their rights against manufacturers of defective consumer products.